Archive
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East Lancs - the 'big city' of tomorrow
A UNIVERSITY for East Lancashire? Dramatically raising our region's wage levels? Spanning it with a Metrolink-style tram system? Planting millions of trees alongside main roads? Clearing thousands of old houses? These might be big and grand ideas, but
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Nature Spy: Your questions answered
Nature watch with Ron Freethy. THIS week's Nature Spy is not so much a list as a question and answer session. Let me first, however, deal with early sightings. This week swallows, and especially sand martins, have been reported despite the fact that the
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Student goes on bike ride for charity
A BLACKBURN College student will be spending her Easter break on two wheels. Carrieann McDonnell (pictured), 18, is doing a sponsored bike ride from Derby to Walsingham -- a total distance of 120 miles. She will be raising money for the St Vincent de
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Brewery boosts Mencap appeal
WHITBREAD has raised more than £100,000 for Mencap's Blue Sky Appeal. More than £33,000 has been raised by staff at Whitbread's Pub Partnerships, Inns North West and Beer Co divisions, all based at the firm's Shadsworth Distribution Centre, School Lane
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Linda scoops Spring Babe title
SEVEN lovely ladies took part in a contest to find Blackburn's most beautiful clubber. Winner Linda Marie Chambers, of Blackburn, posed in a bikini and evening wear to win the first heat. Rock FM presenters Glen Hunt, Danny Bee and Phil Poole judged the
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Classic night of music on the organ
THE Lancashire Students' Symphony Orchestra will be performing alongside leading organist Jennifer Bate at Blackburn Cathedral later this month. The event, organised by the Millennium Organ Project, takes place on Sunday April 30. It is hoped the event
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Chancellor's own goal
ONE expects politicians to be dogmatic, but Chancellor Gordon Brown is proving to be a grade one ostrich with his 25p rise in the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes. By pressing on with further punishment of smokers through extortionate levels of taxation
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I'm backing Britain!
HERE we go again -- somebody has had a bright idea to make this government millions of pounds in extra revenue by targeting caravans to be taxed. Well, Mrs Kathleen Bulcock (Letters, April 6) I own a caravan and I object to giving this government any
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Why oppose democracy?
THE Soapbox article by Arthur Holmes (LET, April 8) objecting to the experiment with Saturday voting in Blackburn with Darwen beggars belief. Along with around 40 other councils around the country, we are trying to find ways that make it easier for people
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Fight now for pension rights
REGARDING your Comment and report (LET, April 14) about the rebellion by 41 Labour MPs, because of the 1980 break of the pension up-rating link with earnings causing the present 75p increase in the state pension, this link was one of the benefits promised
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Youngsters set for national duty
THREE young Rovers stars, including last Saturday's senior debutant Ben Burgess, are set to play for the Republic of Ireland against France in an under-18 international in Dublin tonight. Burgess is joined by Jon Douglas and Paul Forsyth in the Republic
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Grounds for approval
EWOOD'S head groundsman Steve Patrick has claimed yet another top prize, with the nomination as 'First Division Groundsman of the Year'. The recognition comes as a surprise in a season in which the main Ewood pitch has shown unusual signs of wear and
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Florence draws a good luck visit
FLORENCE Nutter enjoyed a piece of good luck when she became the 2,000th member of Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle's lottery draw. Florence is hoping her numbers come up when the draw starts on May 12 but in the meantime she can enjoy a bouquet of
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Christians have cross to bear
ALL seven churches in Clayton-le-Moors and Altham took part in a Palm Sunday procession. Emma Hindle, who attends Barnes Square Methodist Church, Clayton-le-Moors, rode a donkey during the procession (see picture), which was attended by around 120 people
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Boy, 8, hurt in hit-and-run
AN eight-year-old boy from Oswaldtwistle was left bruised and shaken by a "hit-and-run" driver as he went to buy his mum an Easter egg. Police said Ryan Collier, of Wordsworth Close, was struck by a silver car in nearby Thwaites Road at 5.25pm on Monday
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Vegas surprise is holiday high note
A WOMAN has met up with her American pen pal for the first time -- 45 years after they first started writing to each other. Edna Beech, 60, of Brecon Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, was celebrating her ruby wedding anniversary in Las Vegas when her pen friend
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I would have settled for a point: Taylor
DELIGHTED Gillingham boss Peter Taylor admitted he would have been happy to leave Turf Moor with a draw last night -- never mind a 3-0 win which gives his side a chance of snatching the automatic promotion spot behind Preston. The Gills played with just
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Johnrose adds to Stan's woe
LENNY Johnrose is facing a battle to shake off a bout of concussion, while his team-mates must haul themselves off the ropes against Millwall on Saturday if Burnley's promotion fight is to go the last round. The Clarets were sent reeling by a 3-0 defeat
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Carsley's cautious
DOWN-to-earth Ewood skipper Lee Carsley has added a note of caution to the celebrations which saw him complete his first senior game for two and a half months. For the midfielder is fully aware after his return to action in the dismal draw with Portsmouth
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Looking to new heights
LAW firm Taylors is hoping its new appointment will help take them to new heights. The Blackburn-based firm has appointed 6ft 5in Andrew Page as head of corporate law. Andrew, a keen hillwalker, golfer and Superbikes fan, has previously worked for Eversheds
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Budding tycoons' big night
THREE East Lancashire entrepreneurs are preparing to do battle with the best of the North West's budding tycoons tonight. Dawrulmulk Patel, 22, and Hasmat Ali Munchi, 21, who run Vision Eyeland Optical Practice in Accrington, and Donna Louise Hallerton
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Time flies in the face of pellets
MOTORISTS bombarded a Darwen company with complaints after a landmark clock disappeared. The digital clock at Stainless Metric Stock, which also gives temperature readings, was damaged by youths with air rifles. Eric Jones, the owner of the Bolton Road
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Engineer burnt in works accident
A WORKER'S trousers melted when his clothes caught fire as he used thinners to try and start a rubbish fire. The 51-year-old engineer was today said to be "comfortable' in the Royal Preston Hospital. His clothes went up in flames as he burned rubbish
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Gendarmes bring probe to East Lancashire
FRENCH police are preparing to visit East Lancashire later this month as part of their investigation into the disappearance of former Darwen women Evelyn Lund. The 53-year-old lived at a farm in Winter Hill before moving to France six years ago to start
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Broken neck? It's news to me!
A FIREFIGHTER spent more than a year living with a hidden timebomb before a doctor told him: "You've broken your neck." Sub Officer Paul Yates (pictured), 52, was knocked off his bicycle in Sandy Lane, Lower Darwen, in March 1999 and suffered neck, head
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Bakery that gave rise to a dynasty
JAMES Sixsmith's bakery is celebrating 50 years in business -- and to mark the occasion he has written a book on his family's history. He joined the business in Edenfield as a lad because his father had a delivery van and he wanted to drive it. Although
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Mountain trek to raise grand sum
A PROBATION officer is preparing to brave the 14 Welsh mountain peaks in Snowdonia, and hopes to raise £1,000 for Nightsafe. Graham Fletcher, 63, of Compston Avenue, Crawshawbooth, will take on the walking challenge over 3,000 feet in Snowdonia, with
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Action Plan: share experiences
A DIRECTOR of one of East Lancashire's biggest employers and the headteacher of a school in one of its most deprived areas shared their experiences with the 'Achieving our Vision' audience. Colin Silcock, of computer group Time, said the Simonstone firm
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Shoplifter gets seven months
PERSISTENT offender Alan West went shoplifting just hours after appearing in court on a similar charge. Blackburn magistrates jailed him for a total of seven months because he showed a blatant disregard for the law and a lack of respect for previous non-custodial
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Moves to cut youth crime
RESIDENTS have put their views forward on how to cut youth crime in part of Blackburn. People in the Greater Whitebirk area took part in a community survey as part of environmental regeneration charity Groundwork's Youth Works initiative. The survey focused
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Sally defies doctors' orders
RADIO presenter Sally Stone (pictured) defied doctors' orders not to run the London Marathon -- and raised £20,000 for charity. And her doctor couldn't be happier -- because he is her father! Sally was told by her dad, Blackburn Royal Infirmary physician
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Action Plan: Vision for a bright new future
AN ambitious hit list has been drawn up to tackle East Lancashire's major problems with targets including dramatically increasing wage levels and planting millions of trees. Initiatives to encourage entrepreneurs, attract more tourism, improve the quality
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Community centre scheme faces rejection
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to convert a disused warehouse into a community centre looks set to fail. The VMI building in Newton Street, Audley Range, Blackburn, is at the centre of a long running dispute between local residents and the Kokni Muslim Association
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Parents quizzed after drug toddler dies
A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl who suffered a drugs overdose at her home has died in hospital -- and police were today questioning her parents. Natalia Mujahid, of Notre Dame Gardens, Blackburn, died just before midnight yesterday. Her one-year-old brother Darnish
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LOCAL CRICKET: Gillespie blow for Rishton
JASON Gillespie will miss Rishton's first three games in the Transco Lancashire League after having his flight put back two weeks on the advice of the Australian Cricket Board. A fax from the Test star's representative Kym Richardson was received by Rishton
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COUNTY CRICKET: Ganguly stars in win
SOURAV Ganguly produced his first match-winning display for Lancashire as they powered to the top of the Benson and Hedges Cup Northern group. The Indian star pocketed the Gold Award after impressing with the ball and bat in an otherwise farcical 10 overs
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Sculpture culture has gone too far
WITH a plethora of public art, ranging from a huge metal treble-clef to neither-open, nor-shut gates across the streets, already adorning the town centre and tin trees and a bare-bottomed colossus decorating other parts of the borough, Blackburn with
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Same old stories!
RAPID as the recanting has been, the leak revealing Labour's alleged dismissal of Britain's 10 million pensioners as being mostly Conservative voters who are often racist stands to be believed for one reason alone. For so frequent have been the examples
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Events in East Lancashire on Thursday, April 20th
British Diabetic Association meet Pendleside Hospice, Colne Road, Reedley, Burnley, 7.30pm. 'Sensors for glucose monitoring,' by Prof Vadgama, Hope Hospital, Salford. Blackburn Citizens Advice and information sessions, Audley Centre, Blackburn, 1.30-4pm
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Yard birds a big hit
Nature watch with Ron Freethy YOU don't have to live in open countryside to enjoy the delights of the natural world. As reader Ruth Martin reveals in the following letter, you can attract plenty of wild visitors to a humble back yard if the conditions
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Bhutia's bit of history
Bury 1 Chesterfield 1 - BAICHUNG BHUTIA'S moment of history might go down in the record books - but this match won't feature too strongly when the nostalgia merchants roll back the years. Bhutia became the first Indian-born player to score a goal in top
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Royal Albert Hall debut
A BLACKBURN woman is set to make her debut at the Royal Albert Hall, London, playing alongside Julian Lloyd Webber. Oboe and cor anglais player Catherine Earnshaw (pictured), of Beardwood, will be playing in the orchestra accompanying Julian on Tuesday
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School's out. . .of Africa
YOUNGSTERS from a Blackburn primary school celebrated the end of an Ofsted inspection by holding a special African concert. Pupils at Sacred Heart RC Primary School, St Silas Road, donned African costume to end the term on a bright note. The school invited
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Stream team tackle river rubbish
A STRETCH of the River Darwen is looking a lot tidier thanks to a weekend of hard work by environmentally-minded volunteers. Oil drums, polystyrene packaging, sanitary waste and plastic products were all lifted out of the river at Hoghton Bottoms by more
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Action Plan: Key points
THE strategy details draft initiatives including: Bringing together all local councils to work together on a house clearance programme Integrating public transport more and looking at ways to get more freight on to the rail network Improving major routes
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Not in 'super' league
I READ with interest that Blackburn with Darwen may soon by governed by a committee of "super" councillors. Could someone please tell me where these "super" councillors will be found? Surely, not from among those who rule the roost at the present. We
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Duckling torture
AT Easter the shops are full of cards depicting adorable, newly-born ducklings by rivers and ponds in the countryside. Unfortunately, this idyllic spring-time image bears no resemblance to the filthy, unnatural conditions which real-life ducklings have
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'Neighbour from hell' hits back
A WOMAN today hit back at "neighbours from hell" allegations and vowed to fight eviction in court -- after it emerged that legal problems had scuppered a previous attempt to remove her family from their council home. Mother-of-four Katherine Green, formerly
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Parents quizzed after drug toddler dies
A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl who suffered a drugs overdose at her home has died in hospital -- and police were today questioning her parents. Natalia Mujahid, of Notre Dame Gardens, Blackburn, died just before midnight yesterday. Her one-year-old brother Darnish
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New green job
A GREEN charity's new business development officer is calling on companies to play a bigger part in caring for the environment. Kristian Bentham (pictured) has been appointed to the post at the North West-based anti-litter agency Tidy Britain Group, one
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Ewood second string on convincing form
Blackburn Rovers Reserves 3 Sunderland Reserves 1 AN all-action midfield performance by Damien Johnson typified a very convincing Rovers win at Ewood last night. Johnson, revelling in a central role, seemed to get stronger as the game went on and crowned
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Big top brings thrills galore!
UNCLE Sam's Great American Circus arrives in Burnley on Saturday and will remain on land off Gannow Lane until Bank Holiday Monday May 1. The first performances by the circus, which is unusual as it does not use animals in its act, will be at 5pm and
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'Neighbour from hell' hits back
A WOMAN today hit back at "neighbours from hell" allegations and vowed to fight eviction in court -- after it emerged that legal problems had scuppered a previous attempt to remove her family from their council home. Mother-of-four Katherine Green, formerly
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Outrage over shoddy town slur
OUTRAGED residents kept phone lines at Burnley Town Hall busy complaining at the negative way the town had been portrayed by a national newspaper. The Express used figures from the Audit Commission for 1998/99 to portray Burnley Council as a slow payer
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TEN YEARS AGO: Ken's lottery bill
PLANS for a national lottery offering prizes of £1 million or more put up by an East Lancashire MP were rubber-stamped by the Commons. The Bill, drafted by Hyndburn Tory Ken Hargreaves, would aim to raise £1 billion a year for sports facilities, the arts
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FIVE YEARS AGO: Health risk probe
A PUBLIC health probe revealed that people living in the shadow of the controversial Castle Cement plant were just as healthy as other East Lancashire residents. And the public health report claimed the health risks from the Clitheroe company's burning
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Raising a glass to a thousand years
A MILLENNIUM stained glass window has been installed at a Hyndburn high school. St Christophers CE High School, Queens Road West, Accrington, unveiled the spectacular window at a ceremony which was attended by Canon John Hall, formerly director of education
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Fish find fresh water
ANGLERS helped boost fish stocks in Rishton Reservoir. The Hyndburn and Blackburn Angling Association netted 77 common and mirror carp at the Blue Slate fishery near Samlesbury and transferred them into the reservoir. The fish had outgrown the fishery
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Soap star launches ID card sceme
EAST Lancashire actor and Brookside star Steven Pinder is spearheading a campaign to cut solvent abuse, drinking and smoking among teenagers. Whalley-born Steven, who plays Max Farnham in the television soap, officially launched the scheme yesterday on
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Welcome toast for towpath 'walkers'
THREE charity fund-raisers received a welcome toast from Thwaites' Brewery this week while doing a 127-mile "walk." Norman Chandley and Jim Holland, both 61 and from Ormskirk and Martin Culkin, 81, from Magull all represent the Multiple Sclerosis Towpath
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Tuning up for creation celebration
TWO hundred pupils of St Augustine's High School, Billington are rehearsing their latest musical, Song of Creation. It has been written by teachers Anne Conlon and Peter Rose and will be presented at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, on May 22 at 7.30pm
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Clarets throw away golden chance
Division Two: Burnley 0 Gillingham 3 - Pete Oliver's match verdict SO NEAR, yet so far. Burnley had put themselves on the brink of a promotion place only to throw their end-of-season fate back into the melting pot on a disastrous night at Turf Moor. It's
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Johnrose adds to Clarets' woe
LENNY Johnrose is facing a battle to shake off a bout of concussion, while his team-mates must haul themselves off the ropes against Millwall on Saturday if Burnley's promotion fight is to go the last round. The Clarets were sent reeling by a 3-0 defeat
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Seminars pointing the way
FREE seminars will be held to help East Lancashire businesses make e-business profits by switching on to the Internet. GEMISIS, a European Community funded project based at the University of Salford, is holding three one day seminars for small to medium
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North West still lags behind
JOB prospects have risen again in the North West but are still lagging behind the national average, according to Manpower's latest survey. In the North West, 18 per cent of employers are expecting to take on more staff and only 11 per cent plan to cut
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Dog mess disgust
AN AWARD winning fitness facility is going to the dogs. North West Water spokesman Ian Walker has slammed dog owners for letting animals foul a Trimtrail at Lever Park, Rivington. The facility, opened more than two years ago, earned a special commendation
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Cemetery plan set to fail
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a cemetery close to a popular beauty spot is set to be refused by a council. Local residents and organisations were furious after the plan to build the woodland cemetery at Entwistle was unveiled. A number of letters opposing
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Towering charity effort
CHARITY fund-raisers will climb Darwen Moors in their hundreds to take part in the annual town Tower Trudge. The event on Sunday, April 30, is organised by the Rotary Club of Darwen to raise money for good causes in the area. To celebrate the millennium
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Drugs plot man jailed
A MAN has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for his part in £50,000 drug-dealing conspiracy. John Gibbons, 37, of Schofield Road, Rawtenstall, was sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing ecstasy and amphetamine sulphate with intent to supply
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TODDLER TRAGEDY: Child had turned blue
PARAMEDICS who revived two drugs overdose children today told of the harrowing scene they discovered after being called to the youngsters' home. And they described how they believed the children were dead when they arrived at Notre Dame Gardens in Blackburn
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Physio patient thanks Telegraph for action
A GRANDFATHER who was told he may have to wait almost a year for physio treatment has had his appointment brought forward -- following the intervention of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. Bill Duffy, 60, was shocked when he was told that he could have
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Minister backs secret cabinets
THE Government Minister masterminding the shake-up of town halls across Britain has no intention of forcing groups of "super-councillors" to make their decisions in public. Blackburn with Darwen Council's decision to have an eight-strong "cabinet" making
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NON LEAGUE SOCCER: Clitheroe crash again
Clitheroe 0 Prescot Cables 1 STEVE Parry looks set to bow out at Shawbridge on a low note after Clitheroe crashed to their sixth successive defeat. But despite his side's recent run of defeats, the Clitheroe boss, who will quit as manager at the end of
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LOCAL CRICKET: Harvey boost
FORMER Padiham professional Mark Harvey is set to throw his weight behind Burnley's Lancashire League title this summer. Harvey, who has led Padiham to two successive Jennings Ribblesdale League titles in the last two seasons, has contacted Burnley skipper
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NON LEAGUE SOCCER: Rams are good neighbours
Ramsbottom United 1, Newcastle Town 1 RAMSBOTTOM did local rivals Rossendale United a massive favour last night by denting Newcastle's title hopes with a battling draw at The Riverside. United started where they left off in their last game at Mossley
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SOCCER: May Achilles agony for United
FORMER Blackburn Rovers defender David May could miss the start of next season for Manchester United after rupturing an Achilles tendon. As United bid for a repeat Champions League triumph when they take on Real Madrid at Old Trafford in tonight's quarter
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Reds are mad for it!
DANY ROBSON from Old Trafford previews Manchester united's big night MANCHESTER United manager Alex Ferguson wouldn't rule out a nine goal thriller at Old Trafford tonight in the Champions League quarter-final second leg -- and as long as his side are
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Foolish notion must be put to the test
WHY is the government, with 'education' as its watchword, suddenly going soft on the idea of tests for seven-year-olds? If they are shown to be putting children of that age under pressure, then, says Education Secretary David Blunkett, he will seriously
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Blunt's Bullets
Dearie me - what a dreadful revelation has been delivered to the millions of red-blooded males throughout the world who believe that the ideal woman is a woman of substance, as opposed to the catwalk beanpoles and waifish supermodels the ladies of today
